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Workshops / Workshops / Lake Superior Voyageur Canoe
Registration is Closed
Contact me to get on the advance-notice list for 2024
Imagine paddling along the rugged coast of Lake Superior with the sun on your shoulders and stunning views stretching out before you. Travelling in a canoe as the voyageurs did, exploring backcountry vistas only accessible to the adventurous.
Join Helen Grose and Andrew McLachlan as they embark on their 2nd Annual Lake Superior Voyageur Canoe Photo Workshop this summer!
Sunday, July 30 -
Saturday, August 5, 2023
Maximum 7 Participants
The coastline is a photographer's dream -- offering an intriguing mix of fine sand beaches, granite headlands, and plenty of good landings with striking views and pristine campsites.
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We set out from Wawa and paddle west along the coast through the Highlands Conservation Reserve to Nimoosh Provincial Park. A trip highlight is a 5km round-trip hike to Denison Falls where the Dog River tumbles down in multiple cascades towards Superior.
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With no road access to anywhere along this section of Lake Superior coast, this is an incredible opportunity to embark on a back-country adventure that will yield many unique, and awe-inspiring images.
Trip Itinerary
Sunday, July 30 -- 2 p.m. start
We will meet at Rock Island Lodge in Wawa, Ontario, at 2 p.m. on Sunday, July 30th for introductions and orientation. Our expert wilderness guides from Naturally Superior Adventure will provide us with our individual tents, demonstrate how to set them up, and hand out our dry bags, and paddling gear. We'll then head to the beach where they'll introduce us to our beautiful 36-ft voyageur canoe and take us for a test paddle along the Michipicoten River. In addition to learning how to paddle the boat as a team, we'll learn a bit about the history of the voyageurs and the area before heading back to base-camp to set up our tents along the beach. Those wishing to book a room in the lodge, a prospector tent on the beach, or one of Rock Island's GlamDomes are welcome to splurge for their last night before we head off into the wilds of Superior. We'll enjoy a home-cooked meal at the lodge, then retire for the evening, as it will be an early start!
Please note: it is recommended that you book accommodations in the area for the evening of July 29, or break up lengthy journeys with a stay mid-way, planning to arrive in Wawa on Sunday morning. We will provide a list of accommodation options in the area, which of course include Rock Island Lodge.
Monday, July 31
We will be up before the crack of dawn to photograph the sunrise along the shore of the lodge (optional, of course), which borders the edge of the Michipicoten River as it flows into Lake Superior. We'll then head inside the lodge to enjoy a delicious breakfast to fuel us for the journey ahead. After breakfast, it will be all hands on deck to help load the boat with our gear before we set off on our adventure!
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Monday, July 31 - Saturday, August 5
Mother Nature and the mighty Superior will determine our exact itinerary. How much we paddle in a day, and where we'll stay for the night will remain flexible to ensure our safety. Lake Superior is so large that it creates its own weather system! We have seen glass-like water, as well as huge swells - and it can turn from one to the other quickly. We travel in the canoe only when it's safe to do so. Rest assured, the timing of the trip has been chosen to account for the calmest weather conditions.
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Our ultimate goal is to reach the Dog River, 25km west of Wawa in Nimoosh Provincial Park. We may paddle straight there on our first day, or we may stop in a gorgeous harbour one night there to break up the paddle. We plan to spend two nights at our base camp at The Dog with our last night spent beach camping at one of the quaint harbours along Superior's shoreline. We have planned our hike up to lower Denison Falls for our second day at camp, with the rest of our time there exploring the sweeping cobblestone beach that divides Superior and The Dog. On days spent paddling, we'll stop for mid-morning and mid-afternoon snack and comfort breaks, as well as a lengthy lunch to allow us time for photography.
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Saturday, August 5
We'll be making our way back to Rock Island Lodge for roughly 3 p.m. We may arrive back earlier, or later, so please keep that in mind as you make plans. Those who decide to stay in the area for the night may join us in the lodge for a farewell dinner. Should you decide to stay in the lodge, prospector tents or GlamDome before or after the trip, you'll enjoy a discounted rate.
Workshop Cost:
The cost of this adventure is $2,644 +hst and includes all meals from Sunday dinner to Saturday dinner, beach camping and expedition equipment (personal tent, paddle, PFD, dry bag) from Sunday, July 30 - Saturday, August 5, two experienced expedition guides from Naturally Superior Adventures, and photography instruction from two professional photographers (Helen Grose & Andrew McLachlan).
Helen and Andrew will be providing participants with extensive packing lists, and have set up a dedicated group on Facebook so those joining can have a chance to interact, ask questions, share information, discuss carpooling options, and of course share pictures with each other after the workshop.
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What's Not Included:
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Accommodations other than beach camping on the night of Sunday, July 30
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Alcoholic beverages on the nights of Sunday, July 30 and Saturday, August 5 - you are welcome to BYOB to the lodge
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Sleeping bag
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Thermarest or equivalent ground pad, available by advance request from Naturally Superior Adventures
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Tips & Gratuities to guides and instructors
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Transportation to/from Rock Island Lodge
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Photography equipment
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Items of a personal nature
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Payment Details & Schedule:
Payments are broken down between Naturally Superior Adventures and photography instructors as follows:
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Deposit payment of $625+hst is due by eTransfer to Helen at the time of booking to secure your space in the workshop. This payment is non-refundable and non-transferable.
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Deposit payment of $348.50+hst is due to Naturally Superior Adventures at the time of booking to secure your space in the canoe.
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Balance payment of $625+hst is due by eTransfer to Helen on May 1, 2023 (90 days prior to the workshop). This payment is non-refundable and non-transferable.
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Balance payment of $1,045.50+hst is due to Naturally Superior Adventures on June 10, 2023 (50 days prior to the workshop).
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Cancellation Policy for Payments to Photography Instructors
Please be sure to check your schedule prior to registering for the workshop, as payments are non-refundable and non-transferable (you may not put the funds towards a different workshop). In the event you are unable to attend for any reason, you may be able to sell your space to another individual, but we reserve the right to assess their fit for this workshop prior to accepting their registration. This is due to the unique physical nature of the workshop and its remote location.
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Cancellation Policy for Payments to Naturally Superior Adventures
If you cancel more than 50 days from the start choose:
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Refund less $250 pp OR
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Transfer 100% of your deposit to another program the same or following year.
Cancel 30 – 50 days before the start choose:
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Refund 50% of program fee OR
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Transfer 75% of payment to another trip/instruction the same or following year
Cancel less than 30 day from the start choose:
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No refund OR
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Transfer 50%, less $250 pp to another program the same or following year.
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You are highly encouraged to obtain travel insurance, as well as insurance for your photography equipment.
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We reserve the right to cancel this workshop in the event of insufficient registrations. Then a full refund will be given. We also reserve the right to alter this workshop for safety reasons, including weather, sea state, individual and group dynamics. In that case a refund is not issued.
This workshop takes place in the remote wilderness. In the case a participant chooses to be evacuated or a guide calls for participant evacuation due to illness, individual or group safety; the evacuee will be responsible for evacuation costs.
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All participants are required to sign liability waivers in advance of the trip: one for Naturally Superior Adventures, and one for Helen Grose and Andrew McLachlan. These forms will be provided upon registration.
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All participants are also required to complete a diet and medical form for Naturally Superior Adventures. This form will be provided upon registration.​
Is this photo tour for you? For a detailed look at what you can expect, please click here.
REGISTRATION IS CLOSED
To register for this adventure, please email Helen at info(at)helengrose.ca. She will send you an invoice for the initial payment, payable by eTransfer upon receipt, as well as the payment details for Naturally Superior Adventures' portion. After your deposit payments have been received by both parties, your space in the workshop will be confirmed.
Please mark down the dates for your balance payments. We reserve the right to cancel your participation with no refund if balance payments are not received by the due date.
